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Oak Knoll PTO
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Otter Weekly
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March 30, 2014
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Monday, March 31
- NO SCHOOL: Staff Development Day
Tuesday, April 1
- Woodside Store Trip, Guerra: 9:15am - 1:00pm
- Last day to complete the parent survey
Thursday, April 3
- Hillview Jazz Band Visit: 12:30-1:25pm
Friday, April 4
- Author Visit - Ridley Pearson, 4th/5th grade only: 1:00pm
Saturday, April 5
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Monday, April 7 - Friday, April 11
- 5th Grade Outdoor Ed Trip
Tuesday, April 8
- Woodside Store Trip, McColloch: 9:15am - 1:00pm
Wednesday, April 9
- PTO Board Meeting: 8:15-10:00am, Staff Room
Thursday, April 10
- MPAEF Board Meeting: 8:45-10:45am, TERC
Friday, April 11
- 5th Grade return from Outdoor Ed at 12:15pm
Monday, April 14 - Friday, April 18
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Last Day to Complete the Parent Survey!
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The Oak Knoll SITE Council survey will close THIS TUESDAY, April 1st... no fooling! This is your last chance to share with the administration and SITE Council your opinions. This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Please complete one survey per child. Your constructive and actionable feedback will be reviewed by Principal Ackerman and Vice Principal Gracia. They will share your feedback with the teachers. A summary of results will be shared in the Otter Weekly in April. Past survey feedback has led to many improvements at Oak Knoll. Thank you for your help!
To complete the parent survey please click here, or pick up a hard copy in the office.
The survey settings have been updated to allow multiple responses. Please fill out one survey for each of your children. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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Traffic Safety - Important Reminders
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Parents please be respectful of our crossing guard, Victor. Recently we have had a number of parents in their cars ignore his signal to stop when he is on the crosswalk. This is dangerous to Victor, our children and other pedestrians on the crosswalk. Please do not ignore Victor.
Also, please make sure you obey the 'No Stopping/No Parking' signs around school - even when it's raining or when you are late.
- Do not stop your car to drop off your child(ren) in the 'No Stopping' areas. If you don't want your child to get wet, leave for school earlier and drop your child off in the carline.
- Do not let your children jump out of the car while you are in line at a stop sign. You could be putting your child in the path of a biker. Yes - some students do still bike in the rain!
Thanks for keeping our students and staff safe!
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Please join School Counselor Nicole Scott and School Psychologist Jenny Ryan for a parent book club. We will be reading The Good Enough Child: How to Have an Imperfect Family and Be Perfectly Satisfied by Dr. Brad Sachs. Each week participants will read parts of the book and join other district parents in a lively discussion.
The dates of the Book Club are all Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 at Keplers April 9th, April 23, April 30th, May 7th and May 14th.
To RSVP please email Nicole Scott or Jenny Ryan.
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Oak Knoll's New Buddy Benches
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There are two new benches on the Oak Knoll playground. These are buddy benches. They are a place where students can go when they need someone to play with. Other kids will see them sitting there and ask them to play. The student from the Calling All Kids leadership group and some awesome 3rd graders are doing presentations in all the classrooms so the students will learn about the buddy bench and it's purpose. You can learn more by clicking here.
Our amazing benches were made and donated by a former Oak Knoll dad and friend of the community Oros, and his staff at Ace Hardware in Menlo Park. So the next time you shop at Ace Hardware please say thank you, as the benches are beautiful and will make Oak Knoll an even better place for our children! Also a big thank you to parent Gina Preston for connecting Oros with Oak Knoll and helping to make this happen!
Nicole Scott
School Counselor
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After School Programs - Spring Schedule Now Available
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The After School Program committee has posted the new Spring Schedule here.
Please sign up now as classes fill up quickly. We have introduced a new class called Gorilla Play, so please check it out. Also, Rainbow Chefs is offering new classes for this session for your little chefs - Healthy Snacks and Foods From Around the World.
If you have any questions about the new Spring Schedule, please contact either Aarti Chandna or Kimberly Hartz Foster.
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Thanks to the Carline Volunteers!
The office staff would like to send a thanks to all the volunteers who have helped with the carline this school year. The process is working well and has significantly reduced the number of tardies. Your hard work has made the difference. Thank you!
Note: Please do not have your children help in the carline or wear the neon vests. It is getting a little confusing for the drivers.
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A huge Ollie High Five goes to all the Oak Knoll Scientists who took part in our Science Fair this week. Ollie was impressed with all of the experiments! Thank you to our amazing Co-Chairs: Suneeta Chilukuri, Annette Lewis and Lisa Wise-Faberowski and to everyone who helped them get ready for the big events each day - Victor Barraza, Robert Dell'Immagine, Diana Pohlman, Mark Baker, Erika Drazan, Amy Thornborrow, Naed de la Vega and Tracy Watt. Thank you to all the amazing coaches who made the experience fun for our children.
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MPAEF Auction - This Week!
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A Night in Monte Carlo This Saturday
Online Auction for Kids' Items and Adult Parties Going on Now Through Thursday
The online auction is OPEN! This year, the online auction includes all kids' events and parties, Kids In Training items, summer camps and other items for kids, and all the experiences organized by our very own district teachers! New this year, ALL SUBSCRIPTION PARTIES FOR ADULTS will also be offered online! Click HERE to see a full listing of items available through the online auction. The online auction closes at 9 p.m. on Thursday, so get your bids in!
And there's still time to buy tickets to A Night in Monte Carlo! Tickets are still available atMPAEF.org through noon on Tuesday, April 1. And if you miss out on the website ticket sales, walk-in tickets will be available at A Night in Monte Carlo on Saturday night. If you plan to join the fun, remember to bring your smart phone or other wifi-enabled device to use in the auction.
We hope to see you Saturday!
Karen Dearing and Cyndy Hogan
2014 MPAEF Spring Auction Co-chairs
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Raffle Ticket Sales Extended Due to Rain
Due to the unexpected turn in the weather this past week, the MPAEF Auction team will extend raffle ticket sales toTuesday - Thursday of this week at Oak Knoll, Laurel and Encinal. Already bought tickets? Contact Stephanie Seeger to volunteer with ticket sales at your school.
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PTO Committee Chair Opportunities - School Year 2014-15
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We still have a number of PTO Committee Chair volunteer opportunities available for next school year.
Did you know we have over 50 committees at Oak Knoll with a huge variety of different volunteer opportunities? Click here to read more about each committee. If you would like to volunteer on a committee but aren't sure what would be a good fit for you please contact Oak Knoll's Vice President Jill Wurster to discuss the positions available next year. Many of our committees have more than one chair, so talk with a friend and chair a committee together.
Here are some examples of opportunities available:
After School Sports
There are three after school sport coordinator positions open for the 2014-2015 school year. If you are interested in helping this great and fun program continue please contact Laura Huber. This program can not run without you! For more information about this committee please click here.
After School Programs
The After School Programs committee is looking for two co-chairs for the next school year. This is an exciting and rewarding job. If you are interested in becoming an After School Program co-chair please contact either Aarti Chandna or Kimberly Hartz Foster. For more information about this committee please click here.
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Last Week for Service Award Nominations
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Every year our District is fortunate to have parents, teachers, staff and community volunteers give generously of their time, skills and creativity to our schools. Many programs would not exist if it was not for this formidable group of volunteers, "the Pillars of our Community." Honorary Service Awards (HSAs) as well as the School Service Awards (SSAs) recognize those individuals who have contributed in an extraordinary way to our District.
Please take a moment to nominate someone you know who goes above and beyond to make a difference in our schools. To nominate an individual, please complete an online nomination form by Friday, April 4.
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Thank You to Our New and Returning Business and Realtor Partners
Please support those businesses and realtors who support our schools! Thank you to these new 2013-14 business and realtor sponsors:
Business Partners
Bohannan Foundation
Chris E. Lindsey, D.D.S.
DeLeon Realty
Kennolyn Camps
Northwestern Mutual
Blue Sky Outdoor
Monica Michelle Photography
Scott Kaloust, DDS, MS, Menlo Park Orthodontics
Sundance The Steakhouse
Tavarez Orthodontics
Realtor Partners
Ken DeLeon, DeLeon Realty
Ken Glidewell, Alain Pinel Realtors
Kim Heng, DeLeon Realty
Michael Johnston, Alain Pinel Realtors
Veronica Kogler, Coldwell Banker
Tom LeMieux, Coldwell Banker
Michael Repka, DeLeon Realty
Rachel Repka, DeLeon Realty
Nathalie de Saint Andrieu, Pacific Union
Alex Seroff, DeLeon Realty
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Hillview-sponsored Parent Ed Monthly Series
Next Event: The Media's Influence
'Miss Representation' Film and Katie Cotton, VP Worldwide Corporate Communication Apple Inc.
Wednesday April 9, 6:30pm
Hillview is providing free childcare at these events. Click here for the complete Hillview Speaker Series program, and video recordings of past speakers. If you have any questions, email Jessica Raines.
For a complete listing of all the parent education events in and around our community, please visit the district's ParentEd webpage.
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Kinder Expressions Dance Class
Fridays from 3:30 - 4:15 - starts April 6. A BRAND NEW class for Kindergarteners starts April 6 @ Dance Expressions. Join us Fridays from 3:30 - 4:15 for a fun-filled dance class that inspires creativity and teaches the FUNdamentals of dance. Registration Code: 2036.402. Class is held at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. For more info please email Maryanne, or check out our website
Reading & Classroom Volunteers Needed in East Palo Alto - An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life
Sign up now, starts in September start. We are looking now for parents willing to volunteer beginning in September to assist in K-4 classrooms in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park. Either tutor students in a structured reading program or assist teachers in the classroom with individualized instruction much like you may have done in your own child's school. These schools have almost no parents helping...no PTA. It's one hour per week starting in September. Our organization provides orientation/training and coordinates everything. Click here for an informational flyer. To learn more about the experience, contact parent volunteers Stacie Zell, Leigh Anne Reichow or Jill Zanolli. To sign up, see "Get Involved" at our website or contact Carolyn Blatman, ASM Program Director.
Get Out & Explore with a SamTrans Summer Youth Pass
The 2014 Summer Youth Pass goes on sale May 21 and we're reaching out to schools and other partners to help spread the word about this great travel bargain. The pass costs $40 and is good for unlimited travel for kids 17 years and younger from June 1 through Aug. 31, a significant savings compared to purchasing a Monthly Pass for each summer month.
The Summer Youth Pass offers kids and teens to Get Out & Explore using independent, safe and affordable transportation to summer destinations. Details about this year's Summer Youth Pass program are online here. SamTrans wishes you a happy and safe summer!
Camp Galileo Innovation Summer Camps
They're also courageous, collaboraTive, deTermined and reflecTive. It's all part of the innovator's mindset kids learn when they go to our summer camps. When they internalize it, a subtle, irreversible change takes place. They become bolder, more creative, less freaked out by failure, more hungry for challenges. It puts them on course for a fabulous, innovative, happy life. essenTial camp info:
* over 40 locations across the Bay Area
* Age-appropriate curricula for campers from pre-K to entering 8th grade
* The most meticulously screened, fired-up, inspiring staff in the business
* One of the lowest camper-to-staff ratios of any Bay Area camp * extended care from 8 am-6 pm
* Optional healthy lunch program by Choicelunch
* financial assistance available
For more information check out our website or call 1-800-854-3684
Trebles in Paradise Concert
Sat. April 5, 5pm. Carrington Hall, Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City. Ragazzi Boys Chorus presents Trebles in Paradise, showcasing the wide diversity of styles, periods and musical expression available in a top boys chorus. This is a special, family-friendly concert featuring Ragazzi's unchanged treble voices, and a fun event for boys who might want to join the chorus next season. Along with classical selections, the audience will be treated to the atmospheric Lightning and the Australian fishermen's dance-song Sesere eeye from the remote Torres Strait islands. Serere eeye was taught to the Sydney Children's Choir who carried it to the Australian Girls Chorus who brought it to Korea to teach to Ragazzi on their summer 2013 tour! Fun vaudeville song Hats and the calypso Buy me chocolate will round out the performance. Buy your tickets here.
Woodside Parent Education Series - "The College Solution" with Lynn O'Shaughnessy, College Financial Expert
Thursday, April 3, 7:00 pm.Woodside Performing Arts Center (PAC) . Lynn O'Shaughnessy is a nationally recognized expert on making college more affordable. She helps families "shrink college costs" and become smart college shoppers. Lynn is the author of the Amazon bestseller, The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price. She is the consulting director of college planning for the University of California, San Diego's K-16 programs. Register at our website. Woodside Parent Education Series events are free and sponsored by the Woodside PTSA and the Sequoia Healthcare District.
SUHSD parents, students, and community members welcome! For more information, email Charlene Margot, The Parent Education Series, Program Director, or call 650.868.0590.
For more information on events/opportunities listed above or events listed in prior newsletters, visit the District's Community Links page. |
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Please submit announcements and flyers to newsletter@oakknollschool.com for Oak Knoll events. For the Community Corner, send submissions to communitynews@mpcsd.org.
The deadline for both email addresses is by noon on the Wednesday prior to publication date. Guidelines for submission are available online.
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To read past Oak Knoll PTO newsletters, please visit our archives.
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